Student Handbook
2007-2008
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Students are required by law to have an up to date immunization record before they are allowed to enroll. The Board of Education has concern for the health of students and staff in the district. Any person with knowledge of suspected or confirmed cases of communicable diseases is responsible for reporting this information to the appropriate personnel. Exclusions from school may be required when it is deemed necessary to promote the safety and well being of all students and staff. The Board of Education recognizes the possibility of students and staff acquiring and/or transmitting a communicable disease, which may or may not be life threatening. Communicable disease conditions shall be evaluated on an individual basis considering three prime factors:
A. Degree of life threatening condition
B. Degree of communicability
C. Whether or not the communicable disease has been or should be medically confirmed with laboratory documentation.
Responsibility for evaluating conditions of life threatening communicable diseases shall rest with a designated team of appropriate persons. The Superintendent shall serve as chairperson for this team. The Principals and a teacher from the elementary and high school will serve on this team along with consultation from the local doctor.
There are numerous communicable diseases that may affect a school age population and/or school staff. Some of these have a high degree of communicability. Some are life threatening in nature. Some are both. These include, but are not limited to:
| *** AIDS Cat Scratch Disease Chicken Pox Common Cold Conjunctivitis Cytomegalovirus Diphtheria Fifth Disease Gonorrhea ** Hepatitis A, B, Non-A, Non-B, Delta Herpes Infection Impetigo ** Influenza ** Meningitis ** Mononucleosis Infection Mumps Pediculosis (Head Lice) |
Pertussis Pinworm Rabies Ringworm ** Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Roseola ** Rubella ** Rubeola Salmonella Infections Scabies Scarlet Fever Shigellosis Syphilis Tetanus Trench Mouth Typhoid Fever ** Tuberculosis |
** Mandatory reporting to City-County and State Health Departments by school administration.
*** AIDS shall be reported to State Health officials on an individual basis.
A. EXCEPTION TO ROUTINE REPORTING
Reports of sexually transmitted diseases are kept by local physicians and they report to local health agencies. Sexually transmitted disease reporting is handled in a confidential manner.
B. RECOMMENDED EXCLUSION AND RETURN TO SCHOOL
| Exclude from School | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Disease | Yes | No | Needed for Return to classroom |
| AIDS | X | Individual case consideration mandatory. | |
| Chicken Pox | X | May return seven days after onset of rash or when all lesions are crusted over. | |
| Hepatitis | X | Parents or staff member requested to provide release statement from M.D. or D.O. | |
| Impetigo | X | If under proper treatment. Monitored by nurse or doctor. | |
| Influenza | X | Parents or staff member requested to provide release statement from M.D. or D.O. | |
| Meningitis | X | Parent or Staff member requested to provide release statement from M.D. or D.O. | |
| Mononucleosis | X | If under proper treatment. Monitored by nurse or doctor. | |
| Mumps | X | Parents or staff member requested to provide release statement from M.D. or D.O. | |
| Pediculosis (Head Lice) | X | Requires certificate from health professional and monitoring of proper treatment. | |
| Pertussis | X | Parents or staff member requested to provide release statement from M.D. or D.O. | |
| Ringworm | X | If under proper treatment. Monitored by school nurse. | |
| Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever | X | Parent or staff member requested to provide release statement from M.D. or D.O. | |
| Roseola | X | May return to school when fever subsides and no evidence of rash. | |
| Rubeola | X | Parents or staff member requested to provide release statement from M.D. or D.O. | |
| Scabies | X | Parents or staff member requested to provide release statement from M.D. or D.O. Monitoring of proper treatment as verified by nurse or doctor. | |
| Tuberculosis | X | Requires doctor release statement. Monitoring of proper treatment as verified by nurse or doctor. | |
C. OTHER DISEASES OF SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
Oklahoma State Law (70 - O.S. 1981, Section 1210.194), concerning Pediculosis (Head Lice).
"Any child afflicted with a contagious disease or head lice may be prohibited from attending a public, private, or parochial school until such time as he is free from the contagious disease or head lice. Any child prohibited from school due to head lice shall present to the appropriate school authorities, before said child may re-enter school, certification from a health professional as defined by Section 2601 or Title 63 or the Oklahoma Statutes or, an authorized representative of the State Department of Health, that said child is no longer afflicted with head lice."
D. CONFIDENTIALITY
Information relating to students with communicable diseases shall be confidential. The number of personnel needed to be aware of the child's condition must be kept to a minimum.
E. TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR EVALUATING CONDITIONS OF LIFE THREATENING COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SHALL INCLUDE:
1. Superintendent of Schools
2. Building Principal
3. Student's Teacher
4. Student's or local physician
5. Public health official when appropriate
6. School Attorney when appropriate
F. VIRAL SYNDROMES
Viral syndromes which are associated with a rash, but which doctors cannot specifically diagnose without viral studies (these take one month for completion), should be excluded from school while person has a fever and shows evidence of rash or symptoms. These students or staff members may return to school when symptoms subside.
Texhoma ISD 61
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
The Texhoma Board of Education believes that its primary responsibility is to provide the opportunity for an education to each school-age child who resides within this district and who is qualified under Oklahoma law to attend school.
It is the policy of this board of education that students who have contracted AIDS will not be denied educational opportunities. The placement of students with AIDS within the school system will depend upon the student's needs and the school's capabilities. Students who have been verified by the Oklahoma Department of Public Health, or a private physician as having contracted AIDS may be placed in the school's handicapped program provided the student meets additional requirements under Public Law 94-142, or will be enrolled according to procedures established by the superintendent.
AIDS Prevention Education
An AIDS Prevention Education program is offered to students in the Texhoma School System pursuant to HB 1476 of the 1987 Legislative session. Curriculum materials developed by the State Department of Education shall be used. Any other materials used in the AIDS Prevention Program shall be approved for accuracy by the State Department of Health.
At least one month prior to teaching AIDS prevention, a forum will be held for the parents of guardians. The school counselor, principal, &/or an approved presenter will present the curriculum and materials that will be used. The meeting will be held during evening hours.
No student shall be required to participate in AIDS Prevention Education if a parent or guardian submits an objection in writing to the school principal. A letter will be sent home to notify parents/guardians of the time and date of the forum.
We will teach a class in AIDS education each year to students in the 9th and 12th grades. Material used will be state approved. Parents have the right to look at materials and ask any questions concerning the curriculum taught. The curriculum will be available to parents and guardians one month prior to instruction during an announced public meeting. Any parent or guardian who does not wish their child to attend this class may withdraw his/her child from the instruction by informing the school in writing that he/she does not want his/her child to participate.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS Regulations)
In accordance with the policy of the Texhoma Board of Education, this regulation shall govern the placement of students infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which can result in Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and its related illnesses.
The knowledge that a student of this school district is afflicted with AIDS may arise from different sources. If a student or the student's parents or guardian advises a member of the staff that the student has AIDS or is suspected of having AIDS, the staff member will report that information immediately to the superintendent.
If the student or any person other that a student's parents or guardian reports that a student has or is suspected of having AIDS, the superintendent will meet with the student's parents or guardian as soon as possible. The superintendent will determine if the parents/guardian have knowledge of the student's
When a student is confirmed as being infected with AIDS, the superintendent will discuss the educational options of the student with a Health Review Committee composed of the parent, guardian or legal representative of the student; the student's physician; a representative of the public health department; a representative from the state department of education; and a representative of the local superintendent's office.
The Health Review Committee shall make recommendations for educational placement after weighing the risks and benefits to both the infected child and to others in the educational setting. If the Health Review Committee determines that the condition of the student warrants the child being classified as a "handicapped child" in need of special education and related services under P.L. 94-142, then the district shall convene a Special Education Placement team to devise an Individual Educational Placement for the child.
The Health Review Committee will determine if the student's health poses an immediate and present danger to the student, the school staff, or other students if the infected student is placed in a regular classroom environment. If the Health Review Committee determines that such a danger is present, the superintendent will offer homebound instruction to the student under the school's homebound instruction program. A student with AIDS may be temporarily removed from the classroom by the school superintendent if and when communicable diseases are occurring in the school population in order to protect the infected student from extraordinary risk.
If the Health Review Committee determines that the student's health does not pose an immediate danger to the student, school staff, or other students, the Health Review Committee will be requested to conduct a monthly evaluation of the infected student's progress or a more frequent evaluation as circumstances warrant.
The local Board of Education is not subject to the Open Meeting Act when it considers the Health Review Committee recommendations. The school board members are responsible for protecting the confidentiality of any information made available to them in their official capacity about the student.